Seventh Annual Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival BBQ, Brews & Jazz Mendocino Rhythm & Swing Club Bones Roadhouse Thursday, April 9, 2009 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Bones Roadhouse, established in May 2004, has become a coastal Mecca for great barbecue, stunning views and live music.

The original Bones Roadhouse started "up the hill" in Gualala, offering the finest in authentic Texas-style, wood-fired barbecue, microbrews and live blues on weekends. Now Bones Roadhouse has taken up residence "across the tracks... at the edge of town," says owner Mike "Bone Daddy" Thomas, and overlooks the beautiful Gualala River, Gualala Point Park and the Pacific Ocean beyond.

The façade is simple enough... the logo's flames and the Harley wind-spinner signifying both the BBQ and Bones' biker friendly atmosphere... but the interior is almost worth the visit alone. "Bone Daddy" and Mary Thomas have filled their restaurant with all manner of retro and eclectic memorabilia: posters of Elvis, Marilyn, James Dean and Lucy; hundreds of license plates from all over the country; bikes of all types... motorcycles, bicycles and even tricycles hanging or mounted everywhere. Wonderful pirate icons abound, including a life-size figure to greet the customers. Arguably, the most significant feature of 'Bones' is the panoramic view of the Gualala River and ocean across the sandbar. A wind-protected deck promotes al fresco dining while watching the gray whales, coastal wildlife and breathtaking sunsets.

Beginning with informal blues jams, Bones has been the premier spot of a plethora of live, world-class blues, jazz and rock performers, and now has a dedicated stage with sound equipment and lighting, as well as a 'house band,' the Roadhouse Blues Band. Even on Saturday nights when no live music is booked, Bones often has a DJ and will soon be adding a karaoke machine to the mix for customers to join in the fun and perhaps participate in Bones' "Mendonoma Idol" contests. For more information about Bones Roadhouse or its events, call 707-884-1188.

Bones Roadhouse will be participating in the 2009 "Chowder Challenge" as part of the Chowder & Jazz event.

Jazz Artists

Mendocino Rhythm & Swing Club

Paul Mueller - tenor saxophone
Keith Abrams - acoustic bass guitar
Richard Cooper - keyboard
Chad Swimmer - drums/percussion

Paul Mueller and Keith Abrams have been combining musical forces for a decade, aligning themselves with the schools of James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, et al, as well as certain Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean masters.

For this new event in the Whale & Jazz Festival lineup, they are welcoming virtuoso pianist Richard Cooper from Fort Bragg and drummer Chad Swimmer who are often featured at the Headlands Inn in Mendocino.

Richard Cooper, performing on piano and acoustic bass since 1974, is a native New Yorker and has been a northern California resident for the last 33 years. A graduate of the University of Miami and fully credentialed music teacher, Cooper has performed on cruise ships around the globe in a variety of entertainment settings. He has worked as a pianist in Japan and is just back from performing in Rome, Italy with the Donne in Musica organization. Presently, Richard continues to perform regularly at local venues. Musical interests include modern jazz, Brazilian (several styles), Afro-Cuban, classical, tango and various international folk styles.